State of the Peloton 2024

[awavey]

I remember when 7 w/kg was thought of as definitive proof someone was radioactive, and this was a fairly broad opinion in cycling. Basically, since Covid (and I know that the timing has been discussed plenty), this has shifted to the point where now we are hitting those levels and not one person at a high level is openly questioning anything. I get a lot of the "why", but it is nevertheless pretty interesting to see happen. I could totally see the AdH record get obliterated and people would just be applauding and circle jerking over it. Basically, we have moved from a ridiculous single performance, to a ridiculous race, to a ridiculous season.

And then there's always swimming!

It's just a slow pool ok

Look I don't think it's the case no one is noticing or questioning what's been going on, but there are always two elements to it imo

Firstly how are they doing it and how do we prove it?

The second part is then are those involved or reliant on the sport for their livelihoods then prepared to take the whole house of cards down with it.

 

[awavey]

Has accelerated human evolution affected swimmers as well? Interesting, it must be COVID related indeed.

Well they spent all that time in lockdown just training, obviously...

 

[Nick2413]

France punching above their weight in the RR not surprising at all

 

[BullsFan22]

France punching above their weight in the RR not surprising at all

It’s extra funding, training, and home course advantage, didn’t you know!? 🤣

 

[awavey]

It’s extra funding, training, and home course advantage, didn’t you know!? 🤣

They practice on these roads all year round...

 

[Ricco']

France punching above their weight in the RR not surprising at all

They are racing with the olympic flame inside their hearts.

 

[noob]

France punching above their weight in the RR not surprising at all

I am happy as long as Alaphilippe is. (not being a crazy fan at all ) It's not exactly true but he did look really happy!

 

[BullsFan22]

They practice on these roads all year round...

What’s French for ‘jiffy bag?’

 

[awavey]

What’s French for ‘jiffy bag?’

Moteur ? no sorry that's just the french for BMX

 

[noob]

Doing well on home territory is important. I'm not complaining.

 

[houtdffan]

Yep. I think Pantani’s Alpe D’Huez record is in jeopardy if they include it in the Tour next year. Pog’s 3 minute demolition of Marco’s ‘98 PdB record is proof. Sub 35 minutes ?

in the next 2 years, given the all out wmd arms race in the peloton (Nukes were 5 years ago. THis year was antimatter and monopoles), I wouldn;t be surprised to see a 30 min ADH

 

[repoman]

90s-00s: mutant levels of performance
2008: biological passport is introduced
2009-2020: average speeds and times on climbs are considerably lower over all with some records being broken, but not by much
2022: post covid era, times are now suddenly supercharged mutant levels of insanity
I highly doubt there was much drug testing during covid when travel was such a PITA
"iTz ThE cArBz aNd AeRo SoCkS d00d" - GCN, Redditors, Outside, youtube content creators

 

[Pantani Attacks]

They practice on these roads all year round...

I love how practice is the new deflection for doped to the gills.

Vingegaard nearly starting a nuclear reaction in the TT last year was put down to cornering practice. LMFAO.

 

[SHAD0W93]

I love how practice is the new deflection for doped to the gills.

Vingegaard nearly starting a nuclear reaction in the TT last year was put down to cornering practice. LMFAO.

And a GI soft with no fiber diet while riding on a bike without paint.

 

[noob]

I've started to wonder how it feels for a rider who leaves a top team, like Visma or UAE and notice they're nowhere anymore. Like maybe when they switched team they really wanted to believe they weren't winning because of a better doping program... I mean I think I suddenly realise the riders wouldn't want to know what they're on, because it hurts their pride? And then when you switch teams it gotta be so jarring.

 

[Salvarani]

I've started to wonder how it feels for a rider who leaves a top team, like Visma or UAE and notice they're nowhere anymore. Like maybe when they switched team they really wanted to believe they weren't winning because of a better doping program... I mean I think I suddenly realise the riders wouldn't want to know what they're on, because it hurts their pride? And then when you switch teams it gotta be so jarring.

Eh, at the same time they might have gotten more paid to be the clear leader somewhere else.

They are professional at the end of the day. They dont want to ruin their current or future earnings, since many stay in or around the sport after retirement.

 

[noob]

Eh, at the same time they might have gotten more paid to be the clear leader somewhere else.

They are professional at the end of the day. They dont want to ruin their current or future earnings, since many stay in or around the sport after retirement.

That too. But how would it contradict what I wrote? I don't believe all of them are first and foremost in cycling for the money? Some are of course. But maybe that's just because I want to believe the cyclists at least see cycling as a sport, not just a way to get money. If the latter was the main trajectory then of course all the doping in the world would make even more sense. (As would other things like race fixing 💔)

 

[Rob5091]

Race fixing?! Oh man, just read a few books about what went on in the breakaway in days past ... and that's not even bringing Vino into it. Nowadays I suppose the guys are getting better wages so the temptation of some extra cash is not so alluring.

What's still worrying me is the story of Spanish anti-doping (CELAD) over paying (by a lot) a testing lab. We know what went on in the Ruskie lab so what's stopping similar things happening for a "pretty penny"?
Also the lack of action by WADA when CELAD was blatantly messing up testing protocol. No wonder they're getting all flustered by USAD saying things they should n't.

 

[noob]

The more I think about it the more I really wonder if the arms race is about morals of doctors. Some teams got doctors with more moral. Like they will dope obviously, but maybe not in such a risky fashion as UAE.

Wout looks more and more human which is shocking to me.

 

[pastronef]

The more I think about it the more I really wonder if the arms race is about morals of doctors. Some teams got doctors with more moral. Like they will dope obviously, but maybe not in such a risky fashion as UAE.

Wout looks more and more human which is shocking to me.

Wout is in the same team where in 2022 he did WILD stuff at the TDF.

look, if both Pog and Vinge arrive healthy to the 2025 TDF we'll see numbers even faster than 2024. just imagine if Vinge held a few more kms to Pog's wheel this year and Pog had to go well over his limits and drop to the ground after the finish lines...

 

[noob]

Wout is in the same team where in 2022 he did WILD stuff at the TDF.

look, if both Pog and Vinge arrive healthy to the 2025 TDF we'll see numbers even faster than 2024. just imagine if Vinge held a few more kms to Pog's wheel this year and Pog had to go well over his limits and drop to the ground after the finish lines...

That's what I fear. To me it looks like Sola got wilder than San Milan though. So maybe Visma need a new coach to keep up

 

[pastronef]

Stannard's career may very well be over now though, but we'll see if any teams will touch him after this.

Stannard signed with Bahrain yesterday.
I do think UCI had no solid ground to stand on for his blood passport anomalies. it took them 4 years to come up with a suspension. the backdated suspension is probably a way not to look bad cause Uci/Wada *** up something during the monitoring and investigation. otherwise he'd get a real suspension and not after 4 years.

 

[Mayomaniac]

Stannard signed with Bahrain yesterday.
I do think UCI had no solid ground to stand on for his blood passport anomalies. it took them 4 years to come up with a suspension. the backdated suspension is probably a way not to look bad cause Uci/Wada *** up something during the monitoring and investigation. otherwise he'd get a real suspension and not after 4 years.

Looks like the bio-passport has been killed in court multiple times, nobody with enough money to fight it in court gets a legit ban anymore...

 

[pastronef]

Looks like the bio-passport has been killed in court multiple times, nobody with enough money to fight it in court gets a legit ban anymore...

did Stannard even fight it? I mean his anomalies were announced by UCI in 2023, so that's 4-5 years after the
"unexplained abnormalities in his Biological Passport (*) in 2018 and 2019"
again UCI didn't stand on much steady grounds to hand him a real ban.

 

[houtdffan]

wonder how fast the 3 aliens handle the Finestre Final Showdown?

If an 18 year old went up in a little less than 61 minutes, I could see the aliens all getting up in less than 55